November Highlights
News and events from Bristol Books this November
News and events from Bristol Books this November
Bristol Christmas book guide out now!
We’ve just launched our Christmas book guide which is packed full of local gifting inspiration. Whether you are buying a Secret Santa for a friend, or choosing a special gift for a family member, why not buy a local book and help support local independent book publishing? You’ll also find a 10% discount code inside!
BACK IN PRINT!
Bristol Music: Sounds of the City
This essential guide to Bristol music is now back in print and has been revised and updated for 2025. Featuring a timeline of the key moments in the city’s music history from 1955 to the present day, with profiles of almost 100 bands, musicians, DJs and producers who have made a significant impact on the sound of the city from Russ Conway to Massive Attack.
COMPETITION…
Win £50 worth of local books!
This month all our existing newsletter subscribers will be automatically entered into a competition. We are giving you the chance to win £50 worth of local books from the Bristol Books website, all of your own choosing. From history and untold stories, to guides, city walks books, art, sport, biographies and more, we've got it all to choose from. One lucky winner will be drawn from our mailing list. Competition closes on 5th December, 2025. Good luck!
Author talk: Clive Burlton
Bristol's Lost City
Tues 11th November, 7:15pm
Shipham, Rowberrow and Star History Society
Venue: Shipham Village Hall
£4 entry for guests on the night. Refreshments available
Tues 18th November, 7:30pm
Yate Heritage Centre Lectures
Venue: Church Road, Yate
Book a place here
What if Bristol had a metro railway?
This is an artist’s impression of the proposed 1980s Avon Metro. The scheme was put forward by a company called Advanced Transport for Avon (ATA), with a system modelled on London’s Docklands Light Railway. Routes were considered from central Bristol to Portishead, Filton, Emersons Green, Yate, Bradley Stoke, Hartcliffe and Weston-super-Mare, with costs projected at around £230m.
This image is taken from Eugene Byrne’s Unbuilt Bristol walk, featured in The Bristol Ideas Book of Walks, a collection of 12 unique Bristol city walks.
October Highlights
News and events from Bristol Books this October
News and events from Bristol Books this October
Author’s top 5 places to visit near Bristol
A ship graveyard, a rural life museum and a sheep hurdle stack feature in guidebook author, Jackie Strachan’s, top 5 local places to visit from her new book Days Out Around Bristol, Bath & Somerset.
Do you have a Bristol story to tell?
We’re always on the look-out for interesting stories and book ideas about the people, places and events of significance to Bristol and the surrounding area. If you have an interesting Bristol story to tell, an idea for a local interest book, or you’re looking to produce a book for your local organisation, business or charity, get in touch and see how we might be able to help.
Foyles Cabot Circus closure
Bristol Books are sad to say goodbye to Foyles, Cabot Circus store, who are now closed and joining with Waterstones Galleries.
Foyles were a stockist of Bristol Books so it’s sad to see them go, but thankfully as well as Waterstones Galleries there are still other great independent bookshops nearby, in central Bristol, where you can buy our books, including John Wesley's New Room, Broadmead and Stanfords, Corn Street.
Luke Jerram’s Helios at Bristol Cathedral
Mon 6th – Weds 8th October
Bristol Cathedral, College Green, Bristol
Step inside the sun at Bristol Cathedral this October with Helios, a stunning illuminated sculpture by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram. This breathtaking installation featuring detailed imagery of the sun’s surface will be accompanied by a specially created surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
You can explore more of Luke’s work, including Helios, in the new book Luke Jerram: Of Earth and Sky, published by Bristol Books.
Poets’ Walk poetry readings
Martin Rieser
Sat 11th October, 4pm
Princes Hall, Clevedon
Readings from Poets’ Walk a compilation of poetry edited by Martin Rieser, as part of a one day celebration of books and book-related arts, featuring a marketplace for local authors plus author talks.
John Boorman and Bristol: The Newcomers and Money into Light
Sun 26th October, 12-5pm
Bristol Megascreen (Bristol Aquarium), Bristol
In 1964 John Boorman helped launch BBC 2 with a six-part series about Bristol. ‘The Newcomers’ is a unique view of the city in the mid-1960s at a time of social, cultural, political and economic change. Following the screening of the complete The Newcomers, ‘Money Into Light’ will be showing, where Boorman returns to Bristol 25 years on and revisits the places he worked in and filmed.
Hotwells before the wrecking ball
This photo shows what Hotwells looked like before the wrecking ball. Many of the buildings in this photo were demolished when the flyover was built in the 1960’s. Places of interest include:
1. Rownham Inn, 2. The Brethren Chapel, 3. Sopey Park, 4. Anderson's workshop, 5. Public lavatories, 6. Territt Memorial Hall, 7. Spa Assembly Rooms, 8. Brunel’s Swivel Bridge (survived).
This image is taken from Hotwells: Spa to Pantomime, a wonderfully illustrated and colourful tale about the community of Hotwells and Cliftonwood and its ability to adapt to extraordinary changes.
Top 5 places to visit near Bristol
Guidebook author, Jackie Strachan, chooses her top 5 places to visit from Days Out Around Bristol, Bath & Somerset
Guidebook author, Jackie Strachan, chooses her top 5 places to visit from Days Out Around Bristol, Bath & Somerset.
Severn collier, Purton Hulks ship graveyard
PURTON HULKS SHIP GRAVEYARD
I’d already heard of this place, but even so, nothing had quite prepared me for the strange sight of rusty old pipes, weathered rudders and sun-bleached timbers seemingly erupting directly out of the earth. These are the remains of vessels of all kinds, deliberately beached, and now filled with silt, to shore up the bank of the Severn which is perilously close to the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal here.
Mells Village Shop, Post Office & Café
MELLS
I love this delightful village near Frome for its pretty main street, great gastro pub the Talbot and beautiful seasonal Walled Garden with plant nursery and café. But it's the church with its many surprising artistic connections that was a total revelation, with works by Lutyens, Eric Gill, Burne-Jones among others, not to mention the presence of First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon in the churchyard.
Somerset Rural Life Museum
SOMERSET RURAL LIFE MUSEUM
In the shadow of Glastonbury Tor, this excellent museum depicts rural life from the 1800s onwards, with exhibits both inside and out on rural trades and working the land. The well-laid out galleries are full of tools and equipment, with exhibits on farm and village life. I enjoyed it all but particularly the wonderfully evocative photos from when the past definitely was a different country.
Sheep Hurdle Stack
PRIDDY
I like this village deep in the Mendips first and foremost for its sheep hurdle stack on the village green that could have come straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel. The Queen Victoria pub is all flagstone floors and low beams, just perfect, while places to explore nearby include Priddy Pools (SSSI), the weird ‘gruffy’ ground of the Mineries, the legacy of lead mining, Stockhill Wood and ancient Neolithic sites.
Chepstow Bridge
CHEPSTOW BRIDGE
Built in 1816, this graceful iron bridge straddling the Wye looks beautiful shining in the sun on a summer evening. The river bank here is a great place for a short walk, perhaps stopping off in one of the pubs with a view across to England and the Gloucester Hole. One year I saw the weird Mari Lwyd wassail procession which meets the English contingent on the bridge. Great fun.
Discover more places to visit in Days Out Around Bristol, Bath & Somerset.
This guidebook is packed with ideas for great days out within an hour or so’s drive, with suggestions to suit your mood, schedule and starting point. From the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels, to South Wales, the southern Cotswolds, the Coast and its resorts. This guide will help you explore what is on the doorstep or to venture further afield along paths less travelled.
Including South Wales & South Cotswolds
Where shall we go today? Crook Peak, the Avalon Marshes, the Wye Valley? Or perhaps Bruton, Glastonbury or Clevedon? This book is packed with ideas for great days out within around an hour or so’s drive, with suggestions to suit your mood, schedule and starting point. From the Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels, to South Wales, the southern Cotswolds, the Coast and its resorts. Quirky facts and background information provide context, while divided into micro-regions, maps provide orientation. This guide will help you explore what is on the doorstep or to venture further afield along paths less travelled.
What was it like conducting on Bristol’s Trams?
George Pine’s insights into what it was it like working on Bristol’s Trams.
(Left) One month into his job, George pictured with driver ‘Smash’ Sheppard on Tram 31 on Upper Belgrave Road, Durdham Downs (Right) George, in his Tram Conductor’s uniform, poses for the camera in the late 1920s.
Despite his WW1 injuries, George Pine managed a 36-year career collecting fares between Eastville and Durdham Down on Bristol’s trams and buses between the 1920s and 40s. He experienced the changeover from trams to buses in the 1930s and survived several close shaves during the Blitz. He retired in 1956. At the request of his grandson, George jotted down 44,000 words of memories in the months before he died in 1972.
George’s story has been painstakingly researched by Clive Burlton in Trenches to Trams, the Life of a Bristol Tommy – a vivid social and military history – bringing to life the story of an ordinary Bristolian who experienced extraordinary times.
Here are some of George’s insights into what it was it like working on Bristol’s Trams.
Tram conducting experience in the 1920s
Ticket prices were 1d, 2d, and 3d, and conductors had to manage ticket sales efficiently. Discipline was strict, with penalties for mistakes such as failing to pick up used tickets or leaving passengers behind. The tram service was very busy during holidays, transporting crowds to various attractions.
Day trips and excursions by tram
The early 1920s saw a surge in excursion trips facilitated by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company (BT&CC). The BT&CC operated over 200 trams and a fleet of 177 motorbuses and 56 charabancs by 1922.
Sports and team activities
George was actively involved in sports and team activities at the tramway company, including organizing events and participating in competitions. The tramway company had a strong football and cricket team, with players often representing Bristol Trams. George also served as Secretary of the Eastville Depot Sports Club, organizing inter-depot competitions in various sports.
Health challenges and work adjustments
George faced health challenges that affected his work, including eye problems and arthritis, leading to adjustments in his job responsibilities. He had to wear bifocal glasses due to vision issues, which complicated his ticket management. After a medical board assessment, his pension was fixed at 50% for life due to war-related injuries.
Transition from trams to buses in Bristol
The transition from tram services to bus services in Bristol marked a significant change in public transportation during the late 1930s. Tram Service No. 3, which operated from Eastville to Durdham Downs, was one of the first routes to be replaced by buses in May 1938. The changeover was prompted by the need to accommodate retiring tram drivers and the increasing popularity of bus services. The first bus service began on May 8, 1938, with 271 buses replacing the trams. The tram fleet, once the largest in the world with 232 vehicles, was gradually dismantled, with all 34 trams from the Eastville route scrapped by June 24, 1938.
Trenches to Trams is an invaluable social history of a working class Bristolian who lived through two World Wars. It contains more than 200 archive images most of them never previously published. Some of George Pine’s memorabilia is on show at M Shed and the book is supported by Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives.
Trenches to Trams is a vivid social and military history bringing to life the story of an ordinary Bristolian who experienced extraordinary times. George Pine was one of four brothers from Easton who all fought in the First World War. George was awarded the DCM for gallantry and was injured three times while serving with 1/6th and 12th Battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment. He experienced the horrors of the Somme and Passchendaele.
September Highlights
News and events from Bristol Books this September
News and events from Bristol Books this September
Bristol Books at M Shed shop
Having recently restocked with a bumper range of Bristol Books titles M Shed shop now have one of the widest ranges of Bristol Books titles in the city, including exclusives such as Bristol and Transatlantic Slavery. Take a trip to M shed shop this September and browse their wide range of Bristol themed books.
What was it like conducting on Bristol’s Trams?
Despite his WW1 injuries, George Pine managed a 36-year career collecting fares between Eastville and Durdham Down on Bristol’s trams and buses between the 1920s and 40s. Here are some of George’s insights into what it was it like working on Bristol’s Trams.
Bristol Books at Chew Valley Nature Photography Festival
Sat 13 & Sun 14 September
St. Andrew's Church, Chew Magna
Come along to the Chew Valley Nature Photography Festival on the weekend of 13-14th September and hear Bristol Books author Lyndon Roberts discussing his new book ‘Robin Prytherch, A life with Buzzards’.
The festival provides a showcase of the amazing biodiversity found in the region and will feature an exhibition of the 500 entrants to the photographic competition. There will also be live music, refreshments including wildlife themed beers and Bristol Books will have a stand selling a range of our titles.
Author talk: Trenches to Trams
Clive Burlton
Tues 16th September, 7:30pm
Wrington Local History Society
Venue: Wrington United Reform Church Chapel, Roper's Lane, Wrington, BS40 5NF
Entry: £2.50, includes tea/coffee/biscuits.
Author talk: Maid of the Haystack
Martin J. Powell
Mon 8th September, 2pm
Uplands and District Townswomen's Guild
Venue: Headley Park Church, Bristol.